Chris Smalling, the son of Theresa Smalling and Lloyd Smalling, comes from a family deeply rooted in Jamaican heritage. For Chris and his younger brother Jason, education was always a priority, with his family’s support encouraging him to excel both in school and sports. Life, however, dealt him a tough hand early on—Chris was only five when he lost his father, Lloyd. Despite the challenges, sports became his passion, but he also managed to hold down a job during his teenage years, working as a hotel waiter.
Beyond Defense Skills: The Story of Chris Smalling’s Personal Journey
While balancing his athletic pursuits, Chris also took his academics seriously, excelling in travel and tourism, media studies, and business at the A-level, along with AS-level economics. Beyond the field, his love life has also drawn attention; he’s married to Sam Cooke, who is three years his senior, and together, they’re often spotted enjoying adventures, like jet skiing in Barbados.
Known to many for his strength on the defense, few truly know the layers of Chris Smalling’s story. This biography uncovers his journey—from a determined young boy to an accomplished footballer—shedding light on his background, family, love, and life outside the stadium.
Chris Smalling Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
For Biography starters, he bears the full name – Christopher Lloyd Smalling. Chris was born on the 22nd day of November 1989 in Greenwich, United Kingdom.
The lucky-born Sagittarius Footballer (Chris Smalling) was born to his mother, Theresa Smalling and father, Lloyd Smalling.
Chris is of Jamaican descent and from a family that insists on education first before sports.
However, Chris had always thought of being a footballer right from day one and even at school. Below is Chris, aged eight, with his younger brother Jason at Ridge Meadow Primary School.
Young Chris Smalling and his Brother, Jason, in their childhood.
As for his childhood personality, Chris Smalling back then was a quiet, unassuming and well-liked young lad. He was always immaculately turned out and well-spoken.
While in primary school, Chris tried other sports in comparison to his love for football. He was a very good rugby player, talented at basketball and judo.
Chris began judo, becoming a green belt and national age-group champion before football took its full precedence.
Chris proceeded to his secondary school, Chatham Grammar School for Boys, where his maturity to multitask gave him the opportunity to mix football and education. This defined a start to his football career.
The full pursuit of his football dreams started at the young age of nine. Chris joined Walderslade Boys youth football club.
He also proceeded to Lordswood and Millwall from 2002 to 2004, where he rose to the highest rank in their youth system. In fact, he was a vital part of their backlines.
Sport dominated everything Chris did, but he managed to hold down a job as well. In fact, while in his teen years, he once worked as a waiter in a hotel.
As intelligent as he was, Chris still picked up a job because his mum wasn’t rich enough to support him. He became a waiter in a hotel. [Details of his Dad are discussed later in this post.
Smalling studied travel and tourism, media studies and business studies to A-level, as well as economics at AS-level, and achieved good grades in all his subjects.
At 16, Smalling joined local non-League club Maidstone United and quickly progressed through the ranks from the Under 18s to the reserves and then the first team, who play in the Ryman League.
At 16, Smalling’s journey began at Maidstone United, swiftly ascending from U18s to the Ryman League’s main stage.
It was at Maidstone that he grew up to attain his physical attributes, 6ft 4inch height and of course, his wonderful Afro, which gave him the nickname ‘Shaft’.
Chris broke an outstanding record as the most player to attain the most match of the match award in his English lower league.
This brought him onto the radar of scouts from Middlesbrough, Charlton, Fulham, Chelsea, Reading and Arsenal. He decided to start with Fulham in a bid to grow steadily.
Chris and his mum did their homework by first visiting the other big clubs (Chelsea and Arsenal) to ascertain where he would go next.
On one faithful day, his mum received a phone call from Destiny. She was shocked, mesmerized by the voice of Sir Alex Ferguson, who asked if she could allow her son to come play in the Theater of Dreams.
Of course, she answered Yes. [Full details of conversation contained in Chris Smalling Family Life].
On 27 January 2010, Manchester United announced that they had signed Smalling for an undisclosed fee. This was described as Chris Smalling’s giant leap in the history of his existence. The rest, as they say, is now history.
Who is Sam Cooke? Chris Smalling’s Lover:
Sam Cooke, an English glamour model hailing from Manchester, is well-known for her work as a Page 3 model. Her career has brought her into the pages of popular British men’s magazines like FHM, FRONT, Maxim, Loaded, Zoo, and Nuts, along with many cover features across international publications.
Meet Sam Cooke, Chris Smalling’s Lover.
She is the love life of Chris Smalling. Sam Cooke is three years older than Smalling. In 2017, Chris decided to tie the knot with Sam Cooke. This happened after getting challenged about Matteo Darmian and Phil Jones’ wedding in the same year.
United’s new boy, Victor Lindelof, also had reason to celebrate after getting engaged to his girlfriend, Maja Nilsson.
Wayne Rooney (CF), Luke Shaw and Phil Jones were among those who grazed the wedding of their friend and teammate.
Chris Smalling loves to Jett out to Barbados every summer break to spend good quality time with the love of his life.
Chris particularly loves to have fun on a jet ski in an exotic location in Barbados. Barbados, an island nation in the Caribbean region of North America, is the ancestral home of notable footballers such as Tyrone Mings, Ashley Cole, and Jarell Quansah.
Their Barbados leisure started in the 2013 summer.
Chris Smalling Family Life:
Chris Smalling originally came from a lower-middle-class family background before his football investment paid off for him. His mum and kid brother now share in his financial success.
Chris Smalling Father:
Sadly, Chris Smalling was only five when his dad, Lloyd, passed away.
The family moved from Greenwich to a modest semi-detached house in Chatham, Kent, where Theresa Smalling enrolled Chris and his younger brother Jason at the local Walderslade Boys Club.
Chris Smalling’s Mother:
A single mum. Ms Theresa Smalling didn’t have a car, and although Millwall offered to help with the costs, she didn’t want her teenage son travelling on his own.
It was Theresa Smalling, his mother, who picked up the phone at home in Chatham, to hear a familiar Scottish burr [Sir. Alex Ferguson] at the end of the line.
Sir Alex Ferguson was calling to assure the mother of Manchester United’s latest transfer target that her son, Chris, would be well looked after in the North West.
‘I was so shocked,’ said Theresa, 53. ‘It was the voice. It was like I was on TV.
‘He was just saying how impressed he was with Chris, how he’ll be well looked after and telling me about everything they’ve got up there.
‘I couldn’t believe it when Chris said about Manchester United, although I wish it was Arsenal. I’m an Arsenal fan, and Chris was when he was little. But I’m so proud.’
Since her husband’s death, Theresa has been in some relationships. Chris once revealed in a twit in his words…
“My mum loves Daley more than me”. YOUNG Daley is a stepfather to Chris Smalling.
The Apology:
On January 2014, Chris Smalling gave an apology for his ‘ill-thought-out and insensitive’ decision to dress as a suicide bomber at a fancy dress party.
He sparked outrage after being photographed dressed in an Arabic kaffiyeh headdress and military-style vest with a fake circuit board and cables attached.
Smalling claimed the outfit was ‘an attempted comedy play’ on the popular ‘Jagerbomb’ alcoholic drink, which is thought to be why he attached bottles of Jagermeister and Red Bull to his belt as imitation grenades.
The costume has caused fury among survivors and relatives of those affected by terrorist attacks.
Speaking to the Sun, the father of a young man who died in the July 7, 2005, terror attacks in London said he ‘could not condemn the costume strongly enough’.
Graham Foulkes, a 61-year-old resident of Oldham whose 22-year-old son David lost his life in the Edgware Road attack by suicide bomber Sidique Khan, described it as “one of the most offensive things I have ever seen.” Jacqui Putnam, a survivor of the 2005 Edgware Road bombing, urged people to “think twice before making light of terrorism.”
Personality away from Football:
The Al-Fayha Defender has the following attributes to his personality.
Chris Smalling’s Strengths: Known for his generosity, idealism, and great sense of humour, Chris brings warmth and optimism wherever he goes.
Smalling’s Weaknesses: He can sometimes promise more than he can realistically deliver, struggles with impatience, and may speak his mind without much diplomacy.
Likes: Smalling has a passion for freedom, travel, philosophy, and being in the great outdoors.
Dislikes: He’s not a fan of clingy people, restrictions, overly speculative theories, and dealing with fine details.
As a Sagittarius, Chris embodies the adventurous spirit of one of the zodiac’s most curious signs. His open mind and philosophical outlook fuel his love of travel and his search for purpose and meaning. Sagittarians like him are extroverted, optimistic, and enthusiastic about life’s changes. They’re known for transforming ideas into action and are driven to pursue their goals with energy and determination.
Chris Smalling Facts – His fellow Jamaicans:
Goalkeepers: Jamal Blackman and David James.
Defenders: Kyle Walker, Sol Cambell and Danny Rose
Midfielders: Jermaine Jenas, Ravel Morrison, Ashley Young, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, John Barne and Aaron Lennon.
Forwards: Theo Walcott, Raheem Sterling, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Daniel Sturridge, Luther Blissett and Ian Wright.
Fact Check:
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